Day 1 | Arrival in Quito, Ecuador

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You land in one of the highest capital cities on Earth. The air feels thinner, the light sharper. In the late afternoon, we gather for a welcome dinner - laughs over local food, early signs of camaraderie, and perhaps a first sense that this will be more than just a bike trip. The nerves are real, but so is the excitement.

To ensure a smooth arrival, a transfer from the airport to your hotel will be arranged based on your flight schedule, including transportation for your bike bag.  A bicycle mechanic is available at the hotel from 2 PM to 8 PM to help assemble bikes and fine-tune setups.

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• Altitude: 10499 ft / 3200 m

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Day 2 | Quito - Acclimatization Ride​

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To get you acclimatized for what lies ahead, we head out for an easy acclimatization ride on our first riding day. We start high, where mist clings to the branches of ancient trees close to Yanacocha. The ride drifts gently downhill, weaving through cloud forests where hummingbirds flash and the scent of wet earth lingers. Gravel crunches under tires as we descend to Nono, a sleepy village where we break for a nice lunch. The ride is not hard, but the altitude reminds you that you are not home. Afterwards, there’s time to rest or fine-tune your ride. We gather for dinner in the evening and head early to bed as we have an early rise the following morning when the journey truly begins. The body adjusts; the senses begin to sharpen. You sleep a little deeper tonight.

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• Riding distance: 18.6 mi / 30 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +2657 ft / +810 m | -4157 ft / -1267 m approx.

• Highest point: 11663 ft / 3555 m

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Day 3 | Quito to Cotopaxi National Park​

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We leave the bustle of Quito behind, climbing steadily on smooth (and not so smooth) gravel and cobblestone roads. Every turn reveals more space and silence. As the city fades, the massive, snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano rises in the distance. The ride is challenging but rhythmic, and the final stretch to the lodge feels like riding into a postcard. By the time you reach the lodge, your lungs are working harder, and your body is waking up to the rhythm of the Andes. Fires crackle, stars hang low, you're in it now.

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• Riding distance: 31.3 mi / 50.3 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +4816 ft / +1468 m | -1650 ft / -503 m  approx.

• Highest point: 11362 ft / 3463 m 

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Day 4 | Cotopaxi National Park to Latacunga Valley

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This is a big day, your first real test. We enter the beautiful Cotopaxi National Park, where wide plains stretch out beneath the massive volcano. Alpacas dot the hillsides; condors trace slow circles overhead. The gravel rolls, climbs and rolls again, and the altitude makes every pedal stroke count. It’s long, breathtaking, and at times, it’s quiet enough to hear your own heartbeat. We finish the day at a beautiful hacienda tucked deep in the Latacunga valley, where we get a break from the altitude, tired, dusty, and completely exhilarated. For poor weather days, there is an alternative shorter route.

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• Riding distance: 52.6 mi / 84.7 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +4816 ft / +1468 m | -6647 ft / -2026 m approx.

• Highest point: 13698 ft / 4175 m

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Day 5 | Latacunga Valley to Isinliví

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We dive into a day of switchbacks, ridgelines, and steep climbs. The scenery grows wilder with every mile—remote farms, weathered faces, horses tied to posts, and long empty stretches of gravel roads. There’s a rhythm to the grind, and a deep satisfaction in earning every foot. Isinliví greets us with color and calm. A warm meal and cozy hacienda wait at the top of a final hill. You’ve climbed a lot today, and you feel it, everywhere.

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• Riding distance: 33.8 mi / 54.4 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +5315 ft / +1620 m | -5233 ft / -1595 m approx.

• Highest point: 13533 ft / 4125 m 

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Day 6 | Isinliví to Tigua

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From the moment we roll out of Isinliví, the route climbs—steep, steady, and scenic. We wind through deep valleys and past tiny Andean farms clinging to the slopes. The air is thinner now, and every pedal stroke reminds you you’re earning this. Midway, the landscape opens up with sweeping views of the highlands and one of the entire journey's most spectacular views, the Quilotoa crater - an extinct volcano filled with emerald colored waters. Llamas graze, clouds drift low, and silence wraps the hills. The final stretch is a bit technical and takes us down from the high volcano slopes and leads us into Tigua, a village known for its colorful art and deep indigenous roots. You arrive tired but inspired, in a place that feels both remote and quietly powerful.

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• Riding distance: 37.4 mi / 60.2 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +7073 ft / +2156 m | -5361 ft / -1634 m approx.

• Highest point: 12684 ft / 3866 m

 

Day 7 | Tigua to Angamarca

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This is remote country now. Locals wave from doorways, and children run beside the bikes. Your body has now adjusted, and you love the miles...and the miles. You roll into Angamarca late in the day, dusty and glowing. There’s not much here, and that’s exactly the point. You’re far from everything, and it feels perfect.

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• Riding distance: 34.9 mi / 56.2 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +4386 ft / +1337 m | -5892 ft / -1796 m approx.

• Highest point: 13478 ft / 4108 m

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Day 8 | Angamarca to Salinas

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Today will test everything you’ve built so far. The climb is unrelenting, the hardest of the journey. But it’s also unforgettable. The road winds up through the highlands and steep slopes, with clouds brushing the tops of ridges. It feels like a small miracle when you finally reach Salinas, a high mountain town known for cheese, chocolate, and small farms. You eat, you laugh, and your legs tremble from the effort. But you’re proud, you’ve earned every foot.

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• Riding distance: 35.4 mi / 57 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +8389 ft / +2557 m | -6280 ft / -1914 m approx.

• Highest point: 13173 ft / 4015 m

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Day 9 | Salinas to Tuntatacto

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Our final ride leads us toward one of the Andes' great volcanic giants, Chimborazo. The road climbs again, slowly, steadily, as the volcano looms larger. At over 6,200 m / 20,500 ft, Chimborazo is closer to space than Mount Everest. The air grows still, vicuñas appear, skittish and elegant, and you ride in silence, struck by the enormity of it all. After a dramatic day, our beautiful hacienda awaits. You made it. You feel small in this great landscape, but in the best, most expansive way. Rest and relaxation await at our home for the night. For poor weather days, there is an alternative, easier route.

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• Riding distance: 38.5 mi / 61.9 km approx.

• Elevation gain/loss: +5036 ft / +1535 m | -5814 ft / -1772 m approx.

• Highest point: 14393 ft / 4387 m

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Day 10 | Departure Day

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It's time to pack up your bike and gear before we load the vehicle for the journey back to the airport in Quito. After a delicious breakfast and one last look at the volcano, we load up and begin the long descent, this time by vehicle, and back to Quito. Bike bag transfer is included, so everything will travel with you. By now, the muscles are sore, the gear is dusty, and something inside you has shifted. You’ve ridden deep into the Andes, and it shows on your face.​

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A note about fitness: This adventure involves physical activity for an average of 6 to 8 hours per day. To participate comfortably in the tour, you will require a good level of fitness. To make a self-assessment of whether or not this is for you, you should consider yourself to be in good shape, be accustomed to biking, and be able to do it comfortably for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Please consult a doctor if you feel that this might be a challenge before booking.

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The entire tour is done in English.

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*We reserve the right to change the itinerary without prior notice due to weather conditions, National Parks regulations or notifications, and unforeseeable circumstances.

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This tour is governed by the Terms and Conditions